Posts Tagged ‘college extracurricular activities’

5 More Movies About College Life

Friday, June 10th, 2011

Movies about college life? My College Guide has them! Or, rather, we’ve compiled another fantastic list of college-themed movies. Hey, after all the work you’ve been doing to get into college, sometimes it’s nice to remember why you’re going in the first place!

Movies about college life? Grab the popcorn!

Movies about college life? Grab the popcorn!

They may not all be true to life, but they sure are entertaining! Your college experience will be what you make of it. So, how do you plan to use the next four years?

Movies To Make You Cheer for The Underdog

Rudy – This one finds its home as a sports classic. Rudy, played by grown up Goonie Sean Astin, is the blue-collar student who can’t afford college (guess he didn’t read My College Guide’s advice on financial aid!) but receives a sports scholarship that lets him in.

Good Will Hunting – How do you like them apples? Matt Damon and Ben Affleck star in Good Will Hunting. Matt plays the part of the genius janitor and Ben? He works construction. We love this movie for the snappy one liners and loads of talent (Robin Williams won an award for his part in this one).

Good Fun

Drumline – We admit: it can be a bit predictable, but Drumline put the fun back in band! Watch it for the awesome competition performance scenes. Even in college it’s a good idea to get involved in extracurricular activities! Remember the OK Go video that used college band students? What you do in college, well, it sure looks great on that resume later!

Movies to Watch with Your Girlfriends

Mona Lisa Smile – Julia Roberts stars as an art teacher at Wellesley College who wants to challenge the way the young girls think. Know what? Women’s colleges are still doing that today! Although, unlike the movie, women’s colleges really aren’t stuffy or old-fashioned. Star-packed and great for girls night.

Legally Blonde – Put away your pink scented paper, grab your Chihuahua and some popcorn, and settle in for this comedy starring Reese Witherspoon. The plot? She heads to Harvard University to get back her ex—and learns a little more about herself in the process. Chick flicks at their finest!

You tell us! What are some of your favorite college-themed movies? Let us know in the comments below! We may just add it to part 3.

Image Courtesy of Flickr, Solo.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

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How To: Choose the Right College Meal Plan

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

After all the paperwork you’ve trucked through, like your application and financial aid, you’ve probably got one last little bit of the registration process to take care of: figuring out your college cafeteria meal plan! My College Guide has hints and tips to help you figure out the best option for you.

How To: Choose the Right College Meal Plan

How To: Choose the Right College Meal Plan

The College Cafeteria Meal Plan

Cafeteria meal plans are covered by your tuition – but you need to decide how much you want to tack onto your total college tuition bill!

You’ve got a lot on your plate right now (pun intended). Some schools don’t give college freshmen a choice about their meal plan. This means you will usually receive three meals a day each weekday and at least two meals on the weekends. But for others, you’ll have to decide! When you look at all that your school has to offer, how do you make the right college meal plan choice?

Make a List

Okay, so you don’t have to be all formal about it and physically make a list, but it helps to think about your eating habits. Do you always eat breakfast? Is your first class scheduled at 8 AM but you aren’t exactly get up and go in the morning?

You should also consider your extracurricular activities. If you are involved in track and know that you will meet and train most mornings each week, will you be able to fit in a long walk to the college cafeteria or will you need to chow down in your dorm room?

In many cases, new college students just aren’t going to use the largest meal plan around. There’s all sorts of other commitments that can get in the way of on-campus meals, like involvement with college extracurricular activities, clubs, organizations, and eating out with friends.

Fixed or Flexible

Some colleges have a meal plan where you purchase so many meals each week for the whole year. You can enter the college cafeteria for dinner only so many times but each time you can eat as much as you want (just beware the Freshman 15!).

At other schools, you will be charged for the items you pick out. It’s a declining balance system much like a debit card — you will present your pass or your I.D. card, whatever your college uses, and that amount will be deducted from your balance for the year. In this case, you will need to make sure you don’t zip through your balance too fast so pay attention to the start and end dates of your college meal plan! Bonus: you are often allowed to treat your family or visiting friends with the declining balance system, just make sure you aren’t too nice about it!

Restricted Diet

If you are lactose-intolerant or have a different diet for other reasons, you should have already made sure that there is something at the college cafeteria for you! Some schools will really work with you but you may also be charged more, too. It’s something to consider and remember as you budget out your first year of college.

Remember, you won’t always eat at the college cafeteria. You’ll go out with friends, on a date, or get free food for involvement in on-campus activities and organizations.

Images Courtesy of Flickr, klynslis.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Campus, College Life, Housing | 2 Comments »

HOW TO: Prevent the College Transfer

Thursday, January 13th, 2011

Let’s face it: the college search is quite the process! You make visits, speak with admissions and students and tour guides and then you fill out form after form and wait for your happy little acceptance letter in the mail. Sometimes, just sometimes, even after all your hard work – you might need a college transfer. Here are a few reasons why you may end up transferring colleges and what you can do now to avoid it!

Still dreaming about "the one that got away?" A college transfer might be the answer!

Lower Columbia College / Lower Columbia College (LCC)

Change of Major – So you thought you really wanted to be an Engineer but you didn’t realize there was all of that Math or maybe after sampling a few different types of class subjects you’ve changed your mind and your new proposed major isn’t even offered at your current college.

Transfer Fix: Before you officially decide on a college, make a list of possible career paths and see if your school offers at least a few of the college majors you might be interested in – check out the strength of those majors at the school, too, if you can. It could save you the headache of having to do the college hunt all over again in a year!

Commuter college – Everyone packs up and heads home on the weekends. That’s fine if that’s what you want to do but what if you live too far away from family and old friends? How did you miss that one?

Transfer Fix: When you visit a college, after your official college tour, make sure to talk  to actual college students. Find out if there’s anything to do on the weekend, if there are various scheduled activities or events throughout the week, and if everyone sticks around or takes off.

Not what you expected – Maybe you didn’t do your research. Maybe, for whatever reason, the campus just isn’t a good college fit for you. For whatever reason, things have changed, even you have changed in the past year, and the things that initially drew you to the campus might not be what you want right now. For example, did you think you wanted a small campus and now find yourself feeling suffocated or maybe you thought you wanted a big campus and feel more like a number than a student.

Transfer Fix: Sometimes, even after making a college campus visit and doing all the research that you are “supposed” to do, when you actually get to college you find it isn’t what you expected. Every campus is different so before you think “drop-out” you might want to think “college transfer.” Now that you are older and wiser you might be better equipped after a year of college to realize what it is you are really looking for. A college transfer might be the way to go.

You can’t get over your dream school – Still pining for your dream school and wishing you were there? Were you shot down for admission because you lacked a crucial subject like Chemistry or enough years in a foreign language? Maybe you did everything “right” but since they can’t take everyone…you didn’t make it in.

Transfer Fix: If you are still thinking about your dream school a whole year later, you might want to apply for a college transfer. Maybe now that you have been involved in college campus activities, have a great GPA, and some community service under your belt, the college that turned you away might just welcome you with open arms. Visit them again and see if you feel the same, then see what steps you have to take to make that dream school your school!

There is no magical solution to preventing a college transfer (and potential loss of college credits!). The college campus visit is very important, just like talking to actual students and trying to get a feel for a college before you dive right in. Meet with your student advisor when you need a little guidance and see what other options there are before you transfer.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. If you’re a student, enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad or iPhone or cash!

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Admissions, College Campus, College Transfer | No Comments »

Connecticut College Camelympics or Why You Should Consider On-Campus Housing

Friday, December 3rd, 2010

There’s quite a few reasons why you might want to consider living on campus (we’ll be exploring that topic in an upcoming article) but until then, here’s one of the obvious reasons: a chance to meet new people and make new friends easily!

Take a look at the fun-packed Camelympics competition pitting dorm against dorm at Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut. The grueling, 36 hour long event includes highly competitive events like floor hockey, Wii Golf, dodgeball, Scrabble, and Quidditch (yes, you read that right) and, yes — it looks like a ton of fun! The goal here for many students wasn’t to snag first, but to keep from snagging last! Watch Camelympics Connecticut College on YouTube or below. Commuter students just don’t have it as good.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. If you’re a student, enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad or iPhone or cash!

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Utah State University: Keep Your Passions, Live the Dream

Friday, October 29th, 2010

Going to college doesn’t mean that you have to trade-in your passions and interests while you are planning for your future. If you take the time to research colleges, make the college campus visit, ask questions, and see what campus clubs and recreational opportunities exist, you can find the college that not only prepares you for your future but encourages your favorite pastimes to help you grow in other ways, too.

This video from Utah State University could be a snow-lovers dream come true. My College Guide loves when colleges show off what makes them unique from other schools – and this video definitely does the trick! Watch Discover a Winter Paradise at Utah State University on YouTube or below.

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Campus, College Life, Fun Stuff, Social Media | No Comments »

Welcome Back FIU Panthers: Clever College Video

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

My College Guide loves it when colleges (and their presidents) show off their sense of humor (remember the A Day in the Life of a College President video?). Well, Florida International University has jumped in with a witty musical twist to welcome back new and returning students for the Fall of 2010 school year!

When colleges combine song and dance, well, we just don’t think you can go wrong! Not only do Florida International University students get involved, but so does the college president, Mark  B. Rosenberg! As you might be able to tell from the video, college is all about community! When you finally get in and get settled at college, don’t be afraid to wear your school colors, put on your college shirt, and jump in, even if it means acting silly every once in awhile: it’s all a part of having a fun, memorable college experience!

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Connecticut College Students Have Room to Rock

Friday, April 30th, 2010

You know that when it comes to dorm rooms, the common consensus is that space is always at a premium.  It’s bad enough you have to put aside your dreams of making it big in the music industry, at least while you pursue a degree, but — do you really have to leave behind your beloved guitar too?  For the musically inclined students at Connecticut College, the answer is most definitely NO.

We’ve never heard of a student group quite like this one! Over two decades ago, musically inclined Connecticut College students formed MOBROC, or Musicians Organized for Band Rights on Campus – and it’s still going strong!  MOBROC members not only have a chance to network with like-minded students and potentially form bands based on these new connections – they also have a fantastic space to jam!  Conveniently located right on campus, MOBROC members use an old squash court, “the Barn” to practice, perform, and even store instruments.  “The Barn” is complete with a balcony and sound system!

MOBROC has been pumping out the talent in the more than two decades that the student group has been in existence, with bands like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Take Care.  Of course, MOBROC members also have plenty of chances to rock out at Conn College events.  For a peek inside “the Barn” check out the Student Bands at Connecticut College YouTube video!  It’s a good reminder that going away to college doesn’t mean giving up your dreams – it means finding an outlet (or creating one) to fulfill them.

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Public University Versus Private University: What’s the Difference?

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

The debate about public universities versus private universities is an old one.  There are some differences that set them apart and even though some private colleges may share similarities of a public college (and vice versa), for the majority of the time, the following characteristics hold true.

Virginia Commonwealth University: a public university

taberandrew/Taber Andrew Bain

Price – The biggest difference between public and private colleges usually lies in the price!  A private university tends to run a little (or a lot) higher than a state-funded public university.  While there are financial aid options, perhaps even institution-specific scholarships and/or grants, it’s usually a heftier price tag to start with — and funding can be slightly harder to come by.

Size – From class size to campus acreage, public universities generally run much larger than the typical private college.  Private schools often possess smaller classrooms and usually a more compact campus — letting you get to know your professors and other students.  Some students, however, like the vibe of a large college campus — there are that many more students with unique ideas to bring to the table! A large campus can provide plenty of on-campus options like campus movie theaters and restaurants, even transportation.

Selection — A public university usually offers a larger selection of classes, majors, even extracurriculars than a private university, which can be good news for the undecided college Freshman!  More class offerings give you the chance to sample possible career choices without having to transfer colleges if you change your mind down the line.   On the other hand, a private university with a smaller selection of majors might be well known for its more specialized programs and majors – and can help you find your focus in the subject you care about.

image

Tostie14/Kevin Tostado

Affiliation — It’s not uncommon for a private university to have a religious affiliation as well, like the University of Notre Dame (Catholic), Yeshiva College (Orthodox Jewish), or American University (Methodist) so if you aren’t religiously inclined, perhaps you would feel more comfortable at a non-affiliated public university or even a non-affiliated private university, like Marietta College or Cornell University.  If a religiously affiliated college sounds good to you, you should have plenty of like-minded students to connect with.

Prestige – There are some people that consider a private university a career boost from the start, regardless of how its programs rank nationally, based on that selective status.  However, there are college admissions that are just as selective at public universities, too.

No matter what type of college you are thinking of choosing – public or private, there is no better way to decide than the college visit!  Keep your options open and don’t discount a college until you find out the facts for yourself: talk to students, sit in on a class, and think about what you want out of your college experience!

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Bad Study Habits Keeping You Down? Tips to Improve The Way You Study

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

At the risk of sounding like your mother – well, we know how important it is to develop good study habits sooner rather than later!  From Google Chrome Extensions to Firefox Browser Add-ons, we’ve already shared ways that technology can help you increase your productivity.  We’ve got tips to help you improve your study habits so when the college workload hits you like a ton of bricks…you’ll be ready!

alaskaval/Val

Nap time? Everyone has that time of day where work seems impossible. Your energy lags, your attention span is missing in action, and motivation is out the window.  Try to figure out when you feel the most alert and schedule your important college related activities and study time accordingly.

Time Savers. Are you always rushing to make morning classes?  Stop while you’re ahead! Figure out in advance what you’re going to wear. Gather together snacks, keys, your wallet, purse, cell phone, and laptop.  Get everything organized and ready for the day.

Jot it down! College professors will be heaping on the homework.  Assignments, study groups, or dinner with friends?  Don’t rely on your memory – write it down! Whether you use a planner, small calendar, your laptop, or a notebook, get used to writing down everything you need to do and you’ll save yourself plenty of headaches and missed deadlines in the long run!

Decisions, Decisions. It’s called time management.  What are the most important items on your to-do list?  While it might be tempting to hang out everyday with your friends, those essays won’t write themselves (unfortunately).  Learn how to juggle your college homework with studying, friends, and campus activities early on before it becomes a problem.

Got Stress? Get into the homework groove and out of the procrastination rut.  Wouldn’t it be nice having a paper done days before it’s due – instead of mere hours?  When you feel overwhelmed – take a break! Use 15 minutes to do anything but schoolwork and come back to it feeling a little refreshed, energized, and ready to dig back in!

Have any tips you would like to share?  Please, add them in the comments section below.

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Posted in College Life, Fun Stuff, Preparing for College | 2 Comments »